Cracker pan



Jan. 27, 1931. I J. G. JACKSON CRACKEIR PAN Filed March 3,1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1" Ja'n. 27, 1931. J. G. JACKSON 1,790,270

CRACKER PAN Fife'a March 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

{Patented Jim. 27, 1931 fUNIT-ED s'rAr ss COMPANY, or cnreeso, L rNoIs,a oonrone'rron or inrirno sf onAoKEnf ma Application filed. March Thepresent invention relates "to cracker pans and other such like devices,and has for 7 its primaryobject to provide an improved frame structurefor such devices which will enhance the durability of'the device,cheapen its construction, and otherwise improve the same. For thepurpose of illustrating the salient features of the invention, twoembodiments are shown'in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. '1 is aplan View of the preferred embodiment; I T

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectiononthe line 2-2 of Fig. l; I e

Fig. 3 is'an enlarged detail section looking in the direction of thearrows 3-3 in Fig. l and showing the preferred form of the frame 'oint;j 1 Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of. the pan; j

Fig; 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 4 looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, in section, of a. modified form ofthe frame joint.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the cracker pan comprises asupporting surface 5, preferably made from wire mesh, screen, orvmeshcloth, with a frame 6 for stretching the cloth, binding its edges andreinforcing the same. The present invention is concerned with the framestructure and according to the preferred form, as illustrated in Figs. 1to 3, inclusive, the frame is constructed of a plurality of elbowsections, each comprising a folded U-shaped band iron out and bent intothe proper form and adapted to be joined together to make up the frame.

The edges of the wire mesh 5 are confined between the folds 7 and 8 ofthe U-shaped band irons and rivets 9 are employed to anchor the screenbetween the folds. These rivets pass through the folds 7 and 8 andthroughthe mesh of the screen.

In order that the pan may be slid or otherwise moved over a supportingsurface, or in fact over any surface, it is desirable that the faces 7on each section of the frame on one side of the pan be flush with thefaces on ad- 1927. Serial no, 172,431,

- IP -Ars n1, eases} I jacent sections; The same arrangement. is

also preferred for the "oppositeside of the I pan in connection with thefaces 8. To'this end the joints between the sections are flush and'noteven the headsof the rivets 19 project above the faces,the same beingcountersunk in the faces for this purposer so far as concernsthepreferredform of joint; shown in Figs. I to 3, inclusive,l arrangethe ends of the sections-in abutting or at least confronting relation toone another as at 10 and to reinferce the joint, reinforcing members 11and 12 are insertedbetween the folds? and 8 at the joint the member 11,for instance, overlylng the screen 5 onione side and the member 12 overlin the screen on the opposite sides The members 11 and 12 preferablycomprise metal strips of a width equal to th'at'of the width of thefoldsof the sections and wheninserted, as described, they v may beanchored by the rivets 9 passing through'the folds of the sections, themembers themselves, and'the wire screen 5. In this construction thejoints are properly reinforced and the sections rigidly heldtor getherwith their faces flush. The joints are preferably made to occur at thesidesand ends ofthe frame so that the corners of the structure are notweakened by the joints.

Practically the same advantages so far as rigidity and reinforcement isconcerned may beaccomplished by the modified form of the invention shownin Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. In this forma so -called telescopic joint isprovided by inserting the end of one section 6.

between the folds of" an adjacent section, the

screen 5 in this form having its edges bound between the folds of theframese'ctions as in T' the other form referred to. Itivets 9 ers usedin this-forminthe same capacity as in the preferred form and their,heads are countersunkinthe faces of the folds To realize a continuousfiushface the opposite sides of the pan-in this telescopic form vo'fjoint, I compress thefolds to a smaller dimensic-nfon the insertedsection so as to compensate for the thickness of each fold on theoutside section. This provides the countersunk portion clearly shown asat 13, The rivetsl9f are preferably arrangedv sothat at least two rivetsare to be provided for each joint at the ends of the telescopingsections. The frame sections 6 are also made as elbows, so to speak, sothat the joints will the more or less rough usage that cracker.

pans are usually subjected to, the edges of the wire screen tend tobecome loosened from the outer frame to which the wire screen issecured. However, by providing a U-shaped metal band to constituteth'e'oute'r securing framethe endsofthe Wires cannot project from theframe into positions where such wire' ends'mightinjure the hands of theusers. it should also be noted that the joints are intermediate thecorners and therefore the corners of the frames may be kept in stockwith the legs of varying lengths so that cracker pans of varying sizes,as de-. sired, may be quickly and readilymade by cutting the wire screenof the desired shape and sizeand thenselecting from stock the cornerframes with legs of lengths to fit the scre-ens'that have been cut.Therefore by I means'o'f the. construction shown and-describedthecorner's and edges of thecracker pan will always present smoothsurfaces to he hands of the users and; at the same time the frame willbe strong and durable, the joints being reinforced, as shown, for bothforms. In other words, by properly reinforcing the joints and providing,integral corner frames a cracker pan is provided which is strong anddurable and maybe subjected to hard usage withoutbecoming distorted andwithout displacing any of the ends of the wires into any positions wherethey would come into contact with the hands of the users.Furthermore,thereinforcements at the joints and the means of securingthe frame sections to each other and to the wire screen are such as toprovide flushsurfaces topermit the cracker panto slide'freely over theoven floor and other'surfaces on which the cracker pan is placed andmoved about. It will also be seen that the construction is such as tonecessitate a minimum amount of material, therebylessening the costof-construc'tion and 'lighteningthe same to facilitate its use withoutsacrificing strength and durabilityl precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown embodiments of my invention, I desire tosecure the following by Letters Patent of the United States: I V

1. A cracker pan embodying in its construction a wire screen and a frametherefor, said frame comprising a plurality of frame sections eachU-shaped in cross-section and L-shaped in plan, means confining the cutedge of the wire screen'between the folds of the frame sections so asnot to be exposed, means comprising strip 'members inserted betweenthefolds on opposite sides of the wires'cre en between the corners ofthe frame to form reinforced joints between the adjacent ends of thesaidframe' sections, and rivets passing through the folds to permanentlysecure the wire screen to the frame and permanently secure said stripmember at the joints,

2. A cracker pan embodying inits, construction a wire' screen and aframe therefor, said frame comprising a plurality-of. elbow sectionseachU=-shaped in cross-section to forminwardly extending grooves to receivethe peripheral edge portion of saidwire screen while the latter remainsin a single plane, and means comprising 'pairsof plates within saidgrooves on opposite sides of the lire screen for securing the elbowsections together with their exposed faces flush with one another. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification onthis28th day of February, A. D. 1927.

JOSEPH GEORGE J ACKS'ON.

